Circulation management system for issuing a circulation medium

ABSTRACT

A circulation management system according to the present invention comprises a host computer of a bank, circulation medium issuing means incorporated in automatic teller machines of the bank, and terminals installed in each store, so that a user can purchase commodities or receive services at stores which are tied up with a bank using the circulation medium issued by the bank which has a function equivalent to a predetermined amount of money. The circulation medium issuing means and the terminals are connected to the host computer through lines, and when a circulation medium is issued, the circulation medium issuing means issues the circulation medium for the requested amount with assigning identification codes to the circulation medium within the limit of the balance of deposits of the user. The host computer withdraws an amount equivalent to the issued circulation medium from the account of the user and stores the identification code of the issued circulation medium. The store passes the circulation medium received from the user for the commodity or service through the terminal, transmits the identification code to the host computer of the bank, and has the host computer confirm whether this circulation medium is genuine. At this time, the host computer collates the transmitted identification code with the identification code stored when the circulation medium was issued, judges whether this circulation medium is genuine, and deposits the amount of money of the circulation medium into the account of the store if genuine.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a circulation management system bywhich consumers can purchase commodities or receive services usingcirculation medium which has a function equivalent to a certain amountof money by adding an identification code.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently an automated teller machine (hereafter ATM) which mechanicallyexecutes withdrawals, deposits and money transfers at a bank to makethese operations efficient is widely used.

To install such an ATM, a storage means for storing the account number,balance of deposits and the code number of the user is disposed in thehost computer of the bank, a card reader for reading the account numberstored on the cash card is disposed in the ATM, and the ATM and the hostcomputer are connected through lines. If the user inserts a cash cardinto the card reader of the ATM to make a withdrawal, for example, theATM transmits the account number read from the cash card to the hostcomputer of the bank, and prompts the user to input the code number viaa keypad. Then it is judged whether the code number which was input viathe keypad and the code number associated with the account number storedin the storage means of the host computer are the same, and if they arethe same, the user is regarded as genuine and the input for the amountof the withdrawal is prompted, and if the amount input via the keypad iswithin the balance of deposits, cash for the input amount is paid out.

As an additional function of the ATM, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.8-263726 states of disposing means for issuing various tickets, such asairline tickets, reserved seat tickets of a railroad, boarding ticketsand movie/concert tickets from an ATM, so as to purchase such tickets onthe spot.

In the above stated ATM which has a cash payment function, however, apredetermined amount of cash must always be stocked in the ATM, andparticularly when cash cannot be replenished due to a holiday whenteller windows are closed, a large amount of cash is stocked on the daybefore. So, recently many crimes involving destruction of an ATM thenight before a holiday where stocked cash is stolen are frequentlyoccurring. Also, even on a day other than a holiday, cash must bereplenished each time cash in the ATM becomes low, and this operation iscomplicated. Also, cash stocked in an ATM sits idle and cannot be usedeffectively.

Also, with the current circulation system based on cash, a large amountof cash, such as proceeds, must be managed by the store, which is notgood for crime prevention, and the user is not insured when money islost.

So recently, circulation systems based on credit transactions usingcredit cards is becoming popular, and circulation systems usingelectronic money are also being constructed, but for both cases, safetyproblems related to illegal use have not yet been solved.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide acirculation system which is useful for three parties: a bank, a user anda store, improving safety against illegal use.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention is circulation management systemthat has a host computer of a bank for managing the balance of depositsfor each account, circulation medium issuing means connected to the hostcomputer through communication lines for issuing a circulation mediumhaving a function equivalent to a predetermined amount of money byassigning an identification code within the limit of the balance ofdeposits of a user, and a terminal installed at a store coupled with thebank, which has a function to read an identification code assigned tothe circulation medium, the terminal is connected to the host computerthrough communication lines, and has a transmission function to transmitthe read identification code of the circulation medium to the hostcomputer, characterized in that the host computer additionally hasidentification code storage means for storing the assignedidentification code of the circulation medium, withdrawal means forwithdrawing an amount of money equivalent to the issued circulationmedium from the account of the user, judgment means for collating theidentification code transmitted from the terminal and the identificationcode stored in the identification code storage means and judging whetherthe circulation medium with the identification code is genuine, moneytransfer means for transferring an amount of money equivalent to thecirculation medium to the account of an origination store when thecirculation medium is genuine, and used code management means formanaging the identification codes of the used circulation medium.

To issue the circulation medium, which functions just like money, inthis circulation management system, the issuance of the circulationmedium is directed by controlling the circulation medium issuing meansof the bank. At this time, the host computer of the bank issues thecirculation medium for the requested amount by adding the identificationcode within the limit of the balance of deposits of the user, withdrawsthe amount according to the issued circulation medium from the accountof the user, and stores the identification code of the issuedcirculation medium in the identification code storage means.

To use the circulation medium at a store which is coupled with the bank,the user purchases a desired commodity by giving this circulation mediumto the clerk just like cash. At this time, the clerk transmits theidentification code to the host computer of the bank by passing thecirculation medium through the terminal installed at the store, so as toconfirm that the received circulation medium is genuine. When the hostcomputer of the bank receives the identification code from the store inthis way, the judgment means of the host computer collates the receivedidentification code and the identification code stored in theidentification code storage means of the host computer, and judgeswhether the circulation medium is genuine. If the circulation medium isgenuine, the amount equivalent to the circulation medium is transferredto the account of the transmission origination store by the moneytransfer means of the host computer, and the identification code of thecirculation medium is managed and the genuineness of the circulationmedium is verified for the store by the used code management means.

In this way, the bank can merely stock the circulation medium, which isonly a piece of paper without the identification code, and does not haveto stock cash in the circulation medium issuing means, which isdesirable in terms of crime prevention. Also, cash is not paid from thecirculation medium issuing means, so compared with the case where alarge amount of cash stocked, like the case of a cash automatic tellermachine, cash can be managed more efficiently. The identification codeof a used circulation medium is managed by the used code managementmeans, so a used circulation medium cannot be illegally used, and evenif the identification code is altered, the circulation medium cannot beused unless its identification code matches the identification codestored in the identification code storage means. Therefore, safetyagainst illegal use is insured.

Even if a user loses the circulation medium, the user can notify theidentification code of the circulation medium, which the user wrotedown, to the bank so as to prevent the use of the circulation medium orto have the bank insure an amount equivalent to the circulation medium.Also, by registering the identification code of the circulation mediumin the host computer, a criminal who uses the circulation mediumillegally at a store can be apprehended.

For a store, the circulation medium is passed through the terminal andan amount equivalent to the circulation medium is immediately paid intothe account of the store if the circulation medium is genuine. There isno need to store cash, such as proceeds, in the store, which isdesirable in terms of crime prevention. Even if an illegal circulationmedium circulates, the host computer of the bank manages the circulationmedium, so the store is free from liability.

Such a circulation medium, which can be created with such inexpensivematerial as paper, can be used only once without being used repeatedlylike a credit card and electronic money, so, potential illegal use canbe decreased and safety against illegal use can be improved. Since thecirculation medium is issued on the basis of the deposits of the user,and is not issued in excess of the balance of deposits, voluntarybankruptcy due to unreasonable loans can clearly be prevented.

Additionally, the used code management means may delete theidentification code of the used circulation medium from theidentification code storage means, or move the used identification codeto a storage area other than the identification code storage means ormark the used identification code within the identification code storagemeans. A possible illegal use of a circulation medium is to alter theused circulation medium for reuse. Deleting the used identification codeby the used code management means is preferable in terms of using thememory of the host computer effectively. However, the history of thealtered circulation medium cannot be known, so it is preferable to movethe used identification code to another storage area or to mark the usedidentification code. To use memory more efficiently, the usedidentification code may be deleted after a predetermined period of timeelapses.

Further, it is preferable that a printed matter, identical to thecirculation medium without the identification code, is used as acirculation medium to be stored in the circulation medium issuing means.It is possible to print all the printed parts of the circulation mediumwithin the circulation medium issuing means by a color printer builtinto the circulation medium issuing means, but with this configuration,issuing a circulation medium takes time and the unit price of thecirculation medium becomes high, so it is preferable to use a printedmatter where parts other than the identification code printing part havebeen printed in advance.

Additionally, a plurality of types of circulation media with differentface values, similar to paper currency, may be used. In the case ofJapanese currency, for example, it is preferable to use a plurality oftypes of circulation medium, corresponding to common bills, such as 1000Yen, 5000 Yen and 10000 Yen.

Further, it is preferable that the circulation medium issuing means isincorporated into the automatic teller machines of the bank. Since anautomatic teller machine has a cash card reader, code number input meansand display means, the circulation medium issuing means can be createdinexpensively by sharing this equipment. Also, an increase in the numberof users of the circulation medium decreases the cash to be stored in anautomatic teller machine, so cash which was once stocked can beeffectively used, and crime prevention can also be improved.

Still further, it is possible to dispose recording paper output meansfor printing or magnetically storing the identification code of theissued circulation medium in the circulation medium issuing means. Inthis case, when a circulation medium is lost, the identification code ofthe lost circulation medium can easily be checked from the recordedcontent of the recording paper.

Also, alarming means for alerting a clerk when the circulation mediumpasses through the terminal, and is judged as not genuine by thejudgment means, may be disposed in the terminal. With thisconfiguration, use of an illegal circulation medium can easily bechecked, and apprehending a user who used the illegal circulation mediumis also possible.

Further, collection means for collecting a used circulation medium maybe disposed in the terminal. Illegal use of a used circulation medium isalmost impossible since the identification code is managed by the usedcode management means of the host computer of the bank, but thepossibility for illegal use still remains, so it is preferable tocollect the used circulation medium by a collecting means so as to bedisposed or managed by the bank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing depicting a general configuration of the circulationmanagement system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting a general configuration of thecirculation management system;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the circulation medium issuing means;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the circulation medium after issuing;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the circulation medium before issuing;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart depicting a control routine executed by an ATM;

FIG. 7 is a drawing depicting a display screen of various processingmenus of an ATM;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart depicting a circulation medium issuing controlroutine;

FIG. 9 is a drawing depicting a circulation medium input screen of anATM; and

FIG. 10 is a flow chart depicting a circulation medium confirmationcontrol routine executed by the host computer.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings.

As FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show, a circulation management system issues acirculation medium (see FIG. 4) 1 to a user from a bank within the limitof the balance of deposits, so that the user can purchase commodities orreceive services at a store which is linked to the bank, using thiscirculation medium 1, and is comprised of a host computer 10 of the bankwhich manages the balance of deposits for each account, automatic tellermachines (hereafter ATM) 20 of the bank connected to the host computer10 through lines, and terminals 40 installed in the stores which aretied up with the bank, and are connected to the host computer 10 throughlines.

The customer data storage means 11 of the host computer 10 stores suchcustomer data as address, name, code number and balance of deposits ofthe user for each account number, and the identification code storagemeans 12 stores the amount and issue date of the issued circulationmedium 1 for each identification code.

The ATM 20 is used for such normal operations as withdrawals, depositsand money transfers, and is comprised of a card reader 21 for readingthe account number from a cash card, bank book entry means 22 for makingentries to a bank book, touch panel type display/input means 23 whichdisplays various guides and instructions on screen and allows variousinputs by touching the screen with a finger, cash withdrawal means 24for counting and withdrawing cash stocked in the ATM 20, transactionstatement issuing means 25 for issuing a transaction statement,circulation medium issuing means 26 for issuing a circulation medium 1which configuration is unique to the present invention, and controlmeans 27 for controlling these means, as shown in FIG. 1-FIG. 3. Thecirculation medium issuing means 26, however, may be configuredindependently from the ATM 20.

As FIG. 3 shows, the circulation medium issuing means 26 is comprised ofa roll 30 of the circulation medium 1A where printed identification codeis not printed, code printing means 31 for printing an identificationcode on the code printing part 2 of the circulation medium 1A (see FIG.4), writing means 32 for magnetically storing the identification code tothe code storage part 3 of the circulation medium 1, cutting means 33for cutting the circulation medium 1 at a predetermined length, andrecording paper outputting means 34 for printing the identification codeof the issued circulation medium 1 on a recording paper and outputtingthe recording paper. The recording paper output means 34 may be omittedand the identification code may be printed on the transaction statementissued by the transaction statement issuing means 25.

The roll 30 is a strip of continuous paper where the amount, bank nameand other data are printed for each circulation medium 1A, and the codestorage part 3, where a magnetic substance is attached, is created oneach circulation medium 1A which is created by cutting the roll 30. Cutforms, which are pre-cut to the size of the circulation medium 1A, andon which the amount, bank name and other data are printed, may bestocked in the ATM 20 as the circulation medium 1A. In this case, thecutting means 33 can be omitted but automatic paper feeding means forsupplying the circulation medium 1 one-by-one must be disposed.

The circulation medium issuing means 26 prints the identification codeon the code printing part 2 of the circulation medium 1A based oninstructions from the control means 27 as shown in FIG. 4, stores theidentification code, branch name of the issued bank and other data inthe code storage part 3, and issues the circulation medium 1 by cuttingthe paper at a predetermined length.

For the circulation medium 1, preparing a plurality of types with adifferent design depending on the face value is preferable, just likecurrency. In the case of Japanese currency, for example, three types ofcirculation medium are issued corresponding to the three types of papercurrency: 1000 Yen, 5000 Yen and 10000 Yen. In this configuration,however, a plurality of sets of the code printing means 31, writingmeans 32 and cutting means 33 are necessary, so the code printing means31 may print the face value on the circulation medium 1 as well and theplurality of types of circulation medium 1 with different face value maybe issued using the same design of circulation medium 1.

The terminal 40 installed at each store is comprised of a medium reader41 for reading the identification code of the circulation medium 1,display means 42 for displaying the read identification code anddisplaying information sent from the host computer 10, and the controlmeans 43 for controlling these means as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Toprevent an illegal action with a used circulation medium 1, a collectionmeans for collecting the circulation medium read by the medium reader 41may be disposed in the terminal 40 so that the bank manages thecollection means.

Now, control executed by the control means 27 of the ATM 20 will bedescribed with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6,Si (i=1, 2, 3, . . . ) shows each step.

When power of the ATM 20 is turned ON, this control starts, and when auser inserts a cash card into the card reader 21 of the ATM 20 for suchprocessing as withdrawal, deposit, money transfer, entry to a bank book,and issuing a circulation medium 1, the step shifts from S1 to S2, andthe ATM 20 stands by until the user inputs the code number prompted bythe display screen.

When the code number is input, the code number is read from the customerdata storage means 11 of the host computer 10 based on the accountnumber of the cash card read by the card reader 21 (S3), and it isjudged whether the code number read by the card reader 21 and the codenumber read from the customer data storage means 11 match (S4). If theymatch, the step moves to S5 regarding the user as genuine, but if thereis no match, the step returns to S2 and a re-input of the code number isinstructed since a code number typing error may have occurred. If thecode numbers do not match for a plurality of times, it is possible thatthe user is illegally using the cash card, so an alarm may alert theclerk. When the code numbers match and the user is judged as genuine, aselection menu for various processing, such as “withdrawal”, “deposit”,“money transfer”, “entry”, “balance check” or “circulation medium issue”is displayed (S5) as shown in FIG. 7. To execute “circulation mediumissue” in the display/input means 23 of the ATM 20, for example, the“circulation medium issue” part of the display screen is selected bytouching with a finger, then the “confirm” part is touched by a finger.

By selecting “circulation medium issue” in this way, the step moves tothe circulation medium issue processing routine and such processing asissuing a circulation medium 1 is executed (S7), then the cash card isreturned to the user (S8). If a processing other than circulation mediumissuing is selected, the step moves from S6 to S9 and to S10, then afterexecuting the selected processing, the step moves to S8.

Now, the circulation medium issuing processing routine will be describedwith reference to the flow chart in FIG. 8.

At first, the screen for issuing the circulation medium shown in FIG. 9is displayed on the display/input means 23 (S20).

Then it is judged whether input of the number of the circulation medium1 has completed (S21). An example of the input method is where thenumber of a 10000 Yen circulation medium is input by touching thenumeric keys at the bottom of the screen with a finger, then “confirm”below the numeric keys is touched by a finger to complete the input ofthe number of 10000 Yen circulation medium 1, as shown in FIG. 9. In thesame manner, the number of 5000 Yen circulation medium 1 and the numberof 1000 Yen circulation medium 1 are sequentially input, and the inputof the number of circulation medium 1 is completed. To correct thenumber of medium input, “cancel” is touched, and to return to the menuscreen, “previous screen” is touched.

Then it is judged whether the total amount of the circulation medium 1,which was input, is within the balance of deposits in the account of theuser (S22). If the total amount exceeds the balance, the step returns toS20 where re-input is instructed. In other words, the circulation medium1 is issued within the limit of the balance of deposits so that accessexceeding the balance of deposits is prohibited.

If the total amount is within the balance of deposits, the specifiednumber of circulation medium 1 are issued respectively, and a recordingpaper, where the identification codes of the circulation medium 1 areprinted or are magnetically stored, is output. At this time, the hostcomputer 10 assigns an identification code for each circulation medium1, prints the identification code on the code printing part 2 of thecirculation medium 1 by the code printing means 31, stores theidentification code to the code storage part 3 of the circulation medium1 by the writing means 32, and issues the circulation medium 1. Theprocessing in S25 corresponds to the debit means.

Then the host computer 10 stores the identification codes of the issuedcirculation medium 1 in the identification code storage means 12 of thehost computer 10, along with storing the amount and issue data of thecirculation medium 1 of each identification code for each identificationcode (S24), then subtracts the total amount of the issued circulationmedium 1 from the balance of deposits of the account of the user (S25).In this way, financial value is added to the issued circulation medium1, and using this circulation medium 1, the user purchases commoditiesor receives services at stores which are tied up with a bank.

Now, control executed by the control means 13 of the host computer 10when the circulation medium 1 is used will be described with referenceto the flow chart shown in FIG. 10.

When a user purchases a commodity or receives services using thecirculation medium 1, the store passes the received circulation medium 1through the medium reader 41 of the terminal 40 installed at the store,and has the host computer of 10 of the bank confirm whether thecirculation medium 1 is genuine. When the host computer 10 receives theidentification code sent from the terminal 40 of the store in this way,this control starts and it is searched whether the identification codecorresponding to the received identification code is stored in theidentification code storage means 12 (S30). The processing in S30 isequivalent to the judgment means.

If the corresponding identification code exists, the amount stored alongwith the identification code is deposited to the account of thetransmission origination store (S31), the identification code is deletedfrom the identification code storage means 12 (S32), and the displaymeans 42 of the store displays that the circulation medium 1 is genuine(S33). The processing in S31 is equivalent to the money transfer means,and the processing in S32 is equivalent to the used code managementmeans. In S32, the identification code may be marked by a code whichindicates “used” in the identification code storage means 21 withoutdeleting the identification code from the identification code storagemeans 12, or the identification code may be moved to a dedicated storagearea other than the identification code storage means 12.

If a corresponding identification code does not exist, the circulationmedium 1 may be illegal, so an alarm is generated by displaying thealarm on the display means 42 of the terminal 40 of the transmissionorigination store (S34). The processing in S34 is equivalent to thealarm means.

In this way, the host computer 10 confirms the identification code, soillegal use of the circulation medium 1 is effectively controlled.

If the issued circulation medium 1 is not used for a predeterminedperiod, six months after issuance, for example, the identification codemay be deleted from the identification code storage means 12 of the hostcomputer 10 so as to control use of the circulation medium 1. In thiscirculation management system, an ATM can be operated with less cashbeing stocked, so a part of the profit may be returned to users by, forexample, adding a privilege according to the amount of use of thecirculation medium 1, or issuing a circulation medium 1 with apredetermined discount rate.

Industrial Applicability

According to the circulation management system in accordance of thepresent invention, the following effects can be received.

The bank does not have to stock cash in the circulation medium issuingmeans, so crime prevention improves and cash can be used efficiently.Also, since the host computer can manage the identification code of thecirculation medium, illegal use of the circulation medium can beeffectively prevented.

The user can stop use or have an amount equivalent to the circulationmedium insured when the circulation medium is lost.

For stores, an amount of money corresponding to the circulation mediumis deposited immediately into the account of the store by passing thecirculation medium through the terminal. Since cash, such as proceeds,does not have to be stored in the store, crime prevention can beimproved.

Such a circulation medium can be created with such inexpensive materialas paper, which can be disposed of after one use, so the possibility ofillegal use can be decreased and safety against illegal use can beimproved.

By registering the identification code of a lost or stolen circulationmedium in the host computer, a user who illegally uses the circulationmedium at a store can be apprehended and safety against illegal use canbe further improved.

Also according to the system of the present invention, deleting the usedidentification code by the used code management means is preferable toeffectively use the memory of the host computer. Moving the usedidentification code to another storage area or marking the usedidentification code allows an investigation of the history of thecirculation medium, which is preferable to control crimes of illegaluse.

Also according to the system of the present invention, the circulationmedium can be issued merely by adding an identification code to theprinted matter, so circulation medium issuing processing can be executedefficiently. Such printed matter can be created less expensively thanprinting with a color printer.

According to the system stated in claim 4, a plurality of types ofcirculation media can be used corresponding to familiar paper currency,such as 1000 Yen, 5000 Yen and 10000 Yen in the case of Japanesecurrency.

Also according to the system of the present invention, many composingelements can be shared between an automatic teller machine and acirculation medium issuing means, which decreases the manufacturing costof the circulation medium issuing means. As the number of users of acirculation medium increase, the cash stocked in the automatic tellermachine can be decreased, therefore cash can be effectively used andcrime prevention can be improved.

Also according to the system of the present invention, theidentification codes of the issued circulation medium can be printed onrecording paper, so the user does not have to take such procedures aswriting down the identification code of an issued circulation medium.

Also according to the system of the present invention, an alarm isgenerated from the alarm means of the store when an illegal circulationmedium is used, so the facial appearance of an individual who uses anillegal circulation medium can be confirmed, or the individual can beapprehended.

Also according to the system of the present invention, illegal use of acirculation medium can be prevented even more effectively by collectingthe used circulation medium by the collection means.

What is claimed is:
 1. A circulation management system Comprising: ahost computer of a bank for managing balance of deposits for eachaccount; circulation medium issuing means connected to said hostcomputer through communication lines for issuing a circulation mediumhaving a function equivalent to a predetermined amount of money byassigning an identification code within a limit of the balance ofdeposits of a user; and a terminal installed at a store coupled with thebank, which has a function to read an identification code assigned tothe circulation medium, the terminal is connected to the host computerthrough communication lines and has a transmission function to transmitthe read identification code of the circulation medium to the hostcomputer, characterized in that said host computer further comprisesidentification code storage means for storing the assignedidentification code of the circulation medium, withdrawal means forwithdrawing an amount of money equivalent to the issued circulationmedium from an amount of the user, judgment means for collating theidentification code transmitted from the terminal and the identificationcode stored in the identification code storage means and judging whetherthe circulation medium with said identification code is genuine, moneytransfer means for transferring an amount of money equivalent to saidcirculation medium to an account of an origination store when thecirculation medium is genuine, and code Management means for managingidentification codes of used circulation medium, wherein said codemanagement means deletes the identification code of the used circulationmedium from the identification storage means, or move the usedidentification code to a storage area other than the identification codestorage means, or marks the used identification code within theidentification code storage means.
 2. The circulation management systemaccording to claim 1, characterized in that a printed matter, identicalto the circulation medium without the identification code, is used as acirculation medium to be stored in said circulation medium issuingmeans.
 3. The circulation management system according to one of claim 1,characterized in that a plurality of types of circulation medium withdifferent face values are used as said circulation medium.
 4. Thecirculation management system according to claim 1, characterized inthat said circulation medium issuing means is incorporated intoautomatic teller machines of a bank.
 5. The circulation managementsystem according to claim 1, characterized in that recording paperoutput means for printing or magnetically storing the identificationcode of the issued circulation medium on recording paper is disposed insaid circulation medium issuing means.
 6. The circulation managementsystem according to claim 1, characterized in that alarm means foralerting a clerk when the circulation medium passed through the terminalis judged as not genuine by the judgment means is disposed in saidterminal.
 7. The circulation management system according to claim 1,characterized in that collection means for collecting a used circulationmedium is disposed in said terminal.